Not surprised to see Jordi in for Conan. I think there is a lot more substance to Jordi at this level. He keeps putting in the big performances.

Maybe. I think it's more horses for courses. The Scottish back row is 3 flankers. If they're going well or there's an injury it's not an 8 you want on the bench (Nordi is an 8 in the same way Wilson is an .

Looking ahead a week for a moment, EJ has started the same backrow as started against Scotland, with Haskell coming on to the bench.Is this Jones doubling down on that starting backrow? I think that's a good thing for Ireland.

Looking ahead a week for a moment, EJ has started the same backrow as started against Scotland, with Haskell coming on to the bench.Is this Jones doubling down on that starting backrow? I think that's a good thing for Ireland.

I think he could be right here fwiw. Think bulk rather than speed is what you need to nullify the French at the breakdown. Though not all that familiar with that French back row. Think the replacements will do a job when they come on.

Looking ahead a week for a moment, EJ has started the same backrow as started against Scotland, with Haskell coming on to the bench.Is this Jones doubling down on that starting backrow? I think that's a good thing for Ireland.

I think that backrow is suitable for France. Underhill will definitely be added if he's fit for Ireland.

Not surprised to see Jordi in for Conan. I think there is a lot more substance to Jordi at this level. He keeps putting in the big performances.

Conan only has himself to blame. Murphy won't have the same impact that Conan is capable of but he'll be much more secure defensively off the bench and I would hope we'd be in a position to not be chasing the game by the time the subs come on.

Not surprised to see Jordi in for Conan. I think there is a lot more substance to Jordi at this level. He keeps putting in the big performances.

Conan only has himself to blame. Murphy won't have the same impact that Conan is capable of but he'll be much more secure defensively off the bench and I would hope we'd be in a position to not be chasing the game by the time the subs come on.

At this stage I don't know if you can say that is true regarding impact. Murphy has had a much bigger impact on international games to date than Conan has.

Joe trusts Murphy to do exactly what he wants in any of the three backrow positions, I don't think that can be said of any other player apart from SOB.

Not surprised to see Jordi in for Conan. I think there is a lot more substance to Jordi at this level. He keeps putting in the big performances.

Conan only has himself to blame. Murphy won't have the same impact that Conan is capable of but he'll be much more secure defensively off the bench and I would hope we'd be in a position to not be chasing the game by the time the subs come on.

At this stage I don't know if you can say that is true regarding impact. Murphy has had a much bigger impact on international games to date than Conan has.

Joe trusts Murphy to do exactly what he wants in any of the three backrow positions, I don't think that can be said of any other player apart from SOB.

Not surprised to see Jordi in for Conan. I think there is a lot more substance to Jordi at this level. He keeps putting in the big performances.

Conan only has himself to blame. Murphy won't have the same impact that Conan is capable of but he'll be much more secure defensively off the bench and I would hope we'd be in a position to not be chasing the game by the time the subs come on.

At this stage I don't know if you can say that is true regarding impact. Murphy has had a much bigger impact on international games to date than Conan has.

Joe trusts Murphy to do exactly what he wants in any of the three backrow positions, I don't think that can be said of any other player apart from SOB.

I specifically added 'capable of' to distinguish between his actual impact and his potential impact. Possibly should just have used potential there.

Conan is a more explosive player than Murphy, I'm not sure you'd find many arguing otherwise. And as such is more likely to have an impact from the bench if he can actually bring his Leinster form to Ireland. Murphy's 'impact' has been best seen at 7 and primarily revolves around accuracy. I've no problem with him benching in this game in particular or in general but he's not someone you bring on when you're chasing a game and you're under the cosh.

Not surprised to see Jordi in for Conan. I think there is a lot more substance to Jordi at this level. He keeps putting in the big performances.

Conan only has himself to blame. Murphy won't have the same impact that Conan is capable of but he'll be much more secure defensively off the bench and I would hope we'd be in a position to not be chasing the game by the time the subs come on.

At this stage I don't know if you can say that is true regarding impact. Murphy has had a much bigger impact on international games to date than Conan has.

Joe trusts Murphy to do exactly what he wants in any of the three backrow positions, I don't think that can be said of any other player apart from SOB.

fuckin’ hell Earl, has he even arrived yet?

Murphy is not outstanding enough at any aspect to get past specialists at 6, 7 or 8 but he's an extremely rounded player who can play anywhere across the backrow. Joe loves him because he can do exactly what Joe wants.

With everyone fit he's probably what? 4th choice in every position? And he'll fall behind others when fit but without VdF, Ruddock and SOB and with Heaslip's retirement I think Joe will still call on him a lot once he moves north.

Not surprised to see Jordi in for Conan. I think there is a lot more substance to Jordi at this level. He keeps putting in the big performances.

Conan only has himself to blame. Murphy won't have the same impact that Conan is capable of but he'll be much more secure defensively off the bench and I would hope we'd be in a position to not be chasing the game by the time the subs come on.

At this stage I don't know if you can say that is true regarding impact. Murphy has had a much bigger impact on international games to date than Conan has.

Joe trusts Murphy to do exactly what he wants in any of the three backrow positions, I don't think that can be said of any other player apart from SOB.

fuckin’ hell Earl, has he even arrived yet?

Murphy is not outstanding enough at any aspect to get past specialists at 6, 7 or 8 but he's an extremely rounded player who can play anywhere across the backrow. Joe loves him because he can do exactly what Joe wants.

With everyone fit he's probably what? 4th choice in every position? And he'll fall behind others when fit but without VdF, Ruddock and SOB and with Heaslip's retirement I think Joe will still call on him a lot once he moves north.

Not surprised to see Jordi in for Conan. I think there is a lot more substance to Jordi at this level. He keeps putting in the big performances.

Conan only has himself to blame. Murphy won't have the same impact that Conan is capable of but he'll be much more secure defensively off the bench and I would hope we'd be in a position to not be chasing the game by the time the subs come on.

At this stage I don't know if you can say that is true regarding impact. Murphy has had a much bigger impact on international games to date than Conan has.

Joe trusts Murphy to do exactly what he wants in any of the three backrow positions, I don't think that can be said of any other player apart from SOB.

So let’s talk possible back line replacements/injury subs and permutations/combos:

Murray off- straight swop for Marmion.

Sexton off- straight swop for Joey.

Aki off- tricky, no direct sub or same type of player. Possibilities- Sexton to 12, Joey on at 10. Second playmaker on pitch. Stockdale to centre with Ringrose, Larmour on wing. (Who plays 12/13?)Larmour to 13 (he says it’s his favourite position), Ringrose to 12. (A waste of Ringrose?)

Conan really should move to Ulster before the indignity of being overtaken by younger lads...

He has turned down a move to Ulster how many times? 2? 3?

if Heaslip hadn't had to retire, there might have been a small argument in favour of such a move. Conan is Leinsters first choice 8 and will remain so for another 2 years at least I'd say. At that stage SOB will have retired too. Conan ain't going anywhere.

I think Leinster missed a trick not bringing Beirne home, but in Fardy we found a gem instead.

I also happen to think that Josh Murphy is going to be the best 6 we've produced in many many years

You're actually unbelievable.

Yeah, Josh will be a decent 6 but don't see him being top class.

Beirne a much better 6.

On Luke fitzgeralds podcast, Ruddock and I think Heaslip (?) have both separately said that Josh Murphy is the best young lad coming through at Leinster at the moment.

Must be something to him.

Incidentally, a couple of Leinster pros (cant remember which, probably the two above) were also saying how skillful cathal marsh was, saying he just needed a run of games.